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WHEN A YOUNG WRITER named Lorne Michaels talked NBC executives into taking a chance on a new weekend late-night comedy series, nobody really knew what to expect-not even Michaels. But Saturday Night Live, launched in 1975 and still thriving today, would change the face of television. It introduced brash new stars with names like Belushi, Radner, Chase, and Murray; trashed taboos that had inhibited TV for decades; and had such an impact on American life, laughter, and politics that even presidents of the United States had to take notice. Now, Pulitzer Prize-winner Tom Shales and bestselling author James Andrew Miller bring together stars, writers, guest hosts, contributors, and craftsmen for the first-ever oral history of Saturday Night Live, from 1974, when it was just an idea, through 2002, when it has long since become an institution. In their own words, dozens of personalities recall the backstage stories, behind-the-scenes gossip, feuds, foibles, drugs, sex, struggles, and calamities, including personal details never before revealed. Shales and Miller have interviewed a galaxy of stars, including Mike Myers, Chris Rock, Bill Murray, Tom Hanks, Adam Sandler, Chevy Chase, Will Ferrell, Dan Aykroyd, Steve Martin, Jon Lovitz, Jane Curtin, Billy Crystal, Martin Short, Dana Carvey, Tina Fey, Jimmy Fallon, Chris Kattan, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Garrett Morris, Molly Shannon, Damon Wayans, Chris Elliott, Julia Sweeney, Norm Macdonald, and Paul Simon-plus writers like Al Franken, Conan O'Brien, Larry David, Rosie Shuster, Jack Handey, Robert Smigel, Don Novello, and others who got their big breaks as part of the SNL team. The Coneheads, the Blues Brothers, Buck-wheat, Wayne and Garth, Hans and Franz, the Cheerleaders, Todd DiLaMuca and Lisa Loopner, "Cheeseburger cheeseburger," Mango, the Church Lady, Ed Grimley-they're all here. And for every fabulous character on-screen there was an outrageous maverick, misfit, or rebel behind the scenes. Live from New York does what no other book about the show has ever done: It lets the people who were there tell the story in their own words, blunt and loving and uncensored.

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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This oral history of NBC's Saturday Night Live is the juiciest treasure trove of backstage gossip, sex and drugs since The Andy Warhol Diaries. With almost three decades' worth of memories from cast members, celebrity hosts, writers, crew and network execs, readers get first-hand reports (often contradictory) on the volatile, competitive, grueling and often drug-fueled process of creating a weekly, 90-minute, live comedy show. While the cast and writers changed over the decades there were two constants: the universal loathing of guest host Chevy Chase and the power of producer Lorne Michaels ("I think he picked the right profession," assesses Jane Curtin, "because he gets to lord over people who want to kneel at his feet and he doesn't acknowledge them-which makes them work harder."). Regulars like Dan Aykroyd, Adam Sandler, Chris Rock, Mike Myers, Billy Crystal, Bill Murray, Al Franken, Martin Short as well as guest hosts like Tom Hanks, Penny Marshall, Alec Baldwin, Carrie Fisher, Lily Tomlin and Steve Martin contribute sterling anecdotes that are alternately hilarious, touching, upbeat and scathing. With the exception of Eddie Murphy (who's positively portrayed), virtually the only missing voices are of those who have passed away (the editors use only interviews conducted for the book and not vintage interviews with John Belushi, Gilda Radner, Phil Hartman or Chris Farley). Scandals, infighting and plenty of showbiz dirt make this a guilty-pleasure page-turner from start to finish. Photos not seen by PW.Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Given access by Lorne Michaels himself, two journalists with TV connections Miller has produced two TV series, Shales is TV critic for the Washington Post recount this show's 25-year history. Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Pleasant read, being reminded of some of the forgotten "players" and hazy years was nice. The idea of having so many different people's perspective gave a really good picture of just how difficult this has been to pull off for so many years. Spared no one's feelings when they were mentioned but also gave praise for the hard work most put in. Having a lot of different people's opinion about the same thing or the same person was really an interesting read. The writers had some of the toughest comments but they have the hardest job and it all fit together very nicely. The common theme of the players seeking Lorne's favor or just any crumb of attention he could toss them was just about pitiful at times and he is apparently one stingy guy with compliments, then the ones who claimed an easy "we were really close" relationship with him were almost as pitiful, the way they spoke made you think it was just what they were hoping was true. Found out new things about the players I thought I had probably read everything about, turns out there were still things to be told.

This book gives you a great sense of how the show gets made. I will never watch the show in the same way now that I understand the mechanics. But of course the best thing about the book is the opportunity to "hear" alums and hosts dissect the show, and analyze its cultural significance and the various personalities that have made it an incredible institution. About 95 percent of the book is just direct recollections by these personalities. There is very little original analysis by the authors. I have never read a book that used this format, but now I wonder why more are not written in this fashion on a variety of subjects. Finally, I generally don't read books that are 750 pages long but this was compelling enough that I got through it in about 2 weeks.

Told in chronological order from before the first idea of the show, in first person snippets from anyone and everyone ever involved: network executives, writers, players, family members. A fascinating look at a slice of television history - especially if you remember watching the very first show and thinking "What the hell is this," like I did.

I don't how these guys got everybody to talk on this book but it's totally fascinating the fact that it's Lorne, the writers, performers, executives, staff, hosts, telling the tale. The only relevant guy that doesn't talk is Eddie Murphy. I can't imagine anybody not LOVING this book if they're true SNL fans. I couldn't stop reading it. Get it now. It's SO updated that even the 2014 cast is there.

If you're looking for the uber detailed, exhaustive historical master work on this history of SNL - this is it. I consider myself a lifelong fan and fairly knowledgable about the show...but this book has information and a level of detail that gave me tons of information I had no idea about. Truth be told, the sheer level of detail made it seem like a little bit of a slog at times (I figured I was I was in for a quick and lighthearted read...but this book takes you beyond that). So from that perspective, it wasn't what I was looking for. But I give it five stars simply because it is the ultimate information resource about the show.

Fantastic read. Author James Andrew Miller takes the concept of an oral history and extrapolates it with a painstaking amount of research and interviews. Pretty much every cast member, crew member, network executive and even guest hosts are interviewed about their experiences on the show and their thoughts on the legacy of one of the most iconic shows in television history. A must read for any SNL fan.

Live From New York is compiled by James A. Miller and Tom Shales in such a giddily readable manner, you're as hooked by it as one of those VH1 Specials looking back at the history of a cultural movement. Conceived as a one-quote-after-another recollection from each significant period of Saturday Night Live's long history (leading up to the book's writing in 2003), Live From New York fascinates you with the revelation of one personality after another - it's safe to say that even in the celebrities you thought you knew well, these interviews and stories evoke something surprising about each of them, and manage to highlight the rather wonderful pretentiousness by which SNL was bourne. Conceived by Lorne Michaels and Dick Ebersol as a chance to showcase edgy, youthful comedy that skewered the world around it, Live From New York shows that SNL's goal of biting the hands that feed it remains gleefully a part of the show's DNA in spite of how commercial periods of its run have been. So with that, Live From New York has the power to be comprehensive and merciless - its 1981-1985 Dick Ebersol years show Ebersol's surprising tenderness and respect while mocking his inability to determine if anything's funny. On the flip side, the book may wind up souring fond thoughts you had of Chevy Chase's various appearances over the years. I found myself deeply drawn into one era after another of SNL while reading this book, yet despite the years flying by over hundreds of pages, something unfortunate happens to the book as it gets "current" - it turns out it's not so current. Though this is mostly the result of the time the book was written, the Will Ferrell/Molly Shannon/Cheri Oteri cast doesn't really have a lot to offer in terms of perspective, and thinking that this was the "end" of a show that has risen back to its peak rather undersells the show's great longevity. The actors in this section talk as though champions doing a victory lap, and it, honestly, makes the pages more soggy than the ones that preceded it, feeling rushed to get in all the highlights of recent years. I also can't help but wish for a supplement to the book to get up to more recent times - Tina Fey as Sarah Palin, or the Lonely Island digital videos. Still, I can't say that's a fault of the book - it was written when it was written, though the slowing impact on the book's excitement is unignorable. Live From New York at its dullest can spend far too long on overcooked grievances and insecurities; why Janeane Garofalo - a very talented actress who had the misfortune of starring in a very bad year of SNL - gets so much ground to whine about... well I'm not sure, is beyond me. At its best, however, it wraps you in extraordinary fly-on-the-wall stories that make you feel like an insider revelling in all of SNL's endless relevance.